Airbnb to Automatically Display Total Prices in Listings
Airbnb Ditches Hidden Fees, Giving Users a Clearer Price View
Tired of unexpected charges ruining your Airbnb booking budget? Well, rejoice my friends, for Airbnb is finally stepping up its game! Starting Monday, the platform will now display the total price of a stay right off the bat, rather than hiding the additional costs in those pesky fees.
This shift toward honesty and transparency is part of Airbnb's commitment to affordability and has come just in time to meet the new federal regulations about junk fees. So, what are these new rules all about, and why should you care?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced regulations curbing the practice of hidden fees. Starting May 12, hotels, short-term rental companies, and live event ticketing providers can no longer present you with surprise "convenience" or "service" fees at the checkout. Instead, they must be upfront about the total cost, including all additional fees, before you agree to pull out your wallet.
Don't sweat it if your booking takes you to a state or city with higher taxes—the final rule does not limit the amount companies can charge. But, it does require businesses to display the total price, with all added fees, more prominently than other pricing information.
Airbnb caught the bacon 🥓 back in 2019 when it started displaying total prices upfront in certain areas of Australia, Canada, and Europe. The feature quickly rolled out as an option to Canada and the US in 2022, with nearly 17 million guests enjoying the benefit since then.
Airbnb acknowledges that this new tool has played a significant role in reducing cleaning fees from hosts. In 2023, the company boasted that nearly 300,000 listings dropped or lowered their fees after launching the tool, with 40% of active listings eliminating the cleaning fee altogether!
So, the next time you book an Airbnb, you'll have a clearer picture of what you'll be shelling out, making those booking blues a thing of the past! 🎉🏡🤑
- With the elimination of hidden fees, Airbnb has initiated a clearer price view, ensuring that users know the complete cost of their stay.
- Starting in 2023, the government's new regulations will prohibit hotels, short-term rental companies, and live event ticketing providers from presenting surprise fees at the checkout, requiring them to be upfront about the total cost.
- In technology and finance, Airbnb's move to display the total price upfront is part of a broader commitment to affordability and transparency in the business sector.
- The introduction of the upfront pricing tool by Airbnb in 2019 and its subsequent expansion in 2022 has significantly reduced cleaning fees for hosts, with millions of listings dropping or lowering their fees, and around 40% of active listings eliminating the cleaning fee altogether.
